Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	DCT Transaction [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] DCT Transaction [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] DCT Transaction [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Earnings [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] DCT Transaction [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 18,705,741		$ 68,948	$ 5,322		$ 19,363,007		$ (901,658)	$ (2,904,461)	$ 3,074,583
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017				532,186,000
Consolidated net earnings	1,822,960								1,649,361	173,599
Effect of equity compensation plans	85,775			$ 12		33,544				52,219
Effect of equity compensation plans, shares				1,251,000
Issuance of units related to acquisitions		$ 6,620,721			$ 962		$ 6,321,667				$ 298,092
Issuance of units related to acquisitions, shares					96,179,000
Capital contributions	181,866									181,866
Redemption of noncontrolling interests	(75,920)					(11,257)				(64,663)
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net	(190,590)							(181,728)		(8,862)
Unrealized losses on derivative contracts, net	(1,323)							(1,285)		(38)
Reallocation of equity						(20,849)				20,849
Dividends ($1.92 per common share for twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and $2.12 for twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and $2.32 for twelve months ended December 31, 2020) and other distributions	(1,348,342)					(125)			(1,123,367)	(224,850)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	25,800,888		68,948	$ 6,296		25,685,987		(1,084,671)	(2,378,467)	3,502,795
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018				629,616,000
Consolidated net earnings	1,701,846								1,572,959	128,887
Effect of equity compensation plans	104,709			$ 10		37,008				67,691
Effect of equity compensation plans, shares				961,000
Capital contributions	11,604									11,604
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(13,250)					2,133				(15,383)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests	(108,433)			$ 12		32,878				(141,323)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests, shares				1,220,000
Contribution to Brazil venture	(12,630)									(12,630)
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net	98,482							95,572		2,910
Unrealized losses on derivative contracts, net	(1,335)							(1,299)		(36)
Reallocation of equity						(38,561)				38,561
Dividends ($1.92 per common share for twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and $2.12 for twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and $2.32 for twelve months ended December 31, 2020) and other distributions	(1,510,097)					(18)			(1,345,660)	(164,419)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 26,071,784		$ 68,948	$ 6,318		25,719,427		(990,398)	(2,151,168)	3,418,657
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2019	631,797,000			631,797,000
Consolidated net earnings	$ 1,616,630								1,481,814	134,816
Effect of equity compensation plans	109,985			$ 7		27,745				82,233
Effect of equity compensation plans, shares				690,000
Issuance of units related to acquisitions	48,533									48,533
Issuance of units related to acquisitions, shares				106,723,000
Liberty Transaction, net of issuance costs	10,013,526			$ 1,067		9,801,373				211,086
Repurchase of common shares	(34,829)			$ (5)		(34,824)
Repurchase of common shares, shares				(539,000)
Repurchase of preferred stock	(7,200)					147			(2,347)
Repurchase of preferred stock, shares			(5,000,000)
Capital contributions	917,092									917,092
Redemption of noncontrolling interests	(116,978)			$ 7		30,727				(147,712)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests, shares				710,000
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net	(194,673)							(189,599)		(5,074)
Unrealized losses on derivative contracts, net	(14,117)							(13,742)		(375)
Reallocation of equity						(55,413)				55,413
Dividends ($1.92 per common share for twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and $2.12 for twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and $2.32 for twelve months ended December 31, 2020) and other distributions	(2,085,173)					(548)			(1,722,989)	(361,636)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 36,324,580		$ 63,948	$ 7,394		$ 35,488,634		$ (1,193,739)	$ (2,394,690)	$ 4,353,033
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2020	739,381,000			739,381,000